Quartet for the End of Time

On a bitingly cold January night in 1941, at the Stalag VIIIA German prisoner-of-war camp, an extraordinary piece of music was performed for the first time by a group of four prisoners - a clarinettist, violinist, cellist and pianist. The composer was Olivier Messiaen, the piece Quartet for the End of Time. Drawing inspiration from birdsong and ancient Hindu rhythms, and with movements with titles such as ‘Dance of fury, for the seven trumpets’ and ‘Tangle of rainbows, for the Angel who announces the end of time’, the piece is a 20th century classic.

Come and join us for this hour-long informal concert, hear excerpts of the piece, and learn the amazing story behind the music and about the lives of the musicians who performed it.